Representative Bartlett's second question focused on what type and level of resources would be useful in training and placing people with disabilities in various jobs. Brother Nelan responded that the Projects with Industry (PWI) program should receive annual federal funding of $100 million, that industries should be encouraged to contribute to and replicate the PWI project, that Section 190 of the Internal Revenue Code should be expanded to include expenses for providing reasonable accommodation, that the Target Job Tax Credit should be enacted for longer periods than one year, and that the Job Training Partnership Act should incorporate more inclusive provisions for training people with disabilities. The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights does not currently have an official position on each of these particular suggestions. We do believe that efforts should be made to enable people of all minorities, including people with disabilities, to achieve their full employment potential. The suggestions offered by Brother Nelan appear to follow this basic principle, although we have not analyzed each one in depth. We hope these responses are useful to you and the Committee as you continue your important work on this major piece of legislation. Sincerely, Chai R. Feldte Chai R. Feldblum, Esq. for the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights ADO & Advocates for Disabled Ohioans June 27, 1989 Representative Major Owens, Chairman Dear Mr. Owens Thank you for co-sponsoring the Americans with Disabilities Act, HR 2273. Passage of this Act will help ensure the civil rights of people with disabilities. Attached is testimony to the Subcommittee on Select Education. Sincerely, Alice Sporar Alice Sporar Advocacy Correspondent ADO 1767 Longwood Cleveland, OH 44124 ADO & Advocates for Disabled Ohioans TESTIMONY ON THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT HR 2273 The Americans with Disabilities Act, HR 2273, would prohibit discrimination toward people with disabilities in both the public and private sectors in the areas of employment, housing, public accomodations, transportation, and The Act would strengthen existing laws, outline compliance communications. guidelines, and provide enforcement procedures. Presently, people with disabilities have no legal recourse when they are discriminated against in the private sector. A movie theater can refuse to sell a ticket on the basis of disability. An employer can refuse a job to a qualified person, or pay that person less, on the basis of disability. Buildings continue to be built without access to disabled people even though there is no additional cost to design buildings for all people. Personally, I know of a developmentally disabled man who has worked I have been told that I could not enter a certain movie theater if When traveling across the country last year, it took two hours to A hotel where I planned to stay had no ramp to the eight inch curb. There I sat, unable to enter the hotel. 1767 Longwood Cleveland. On 44124 -2 When I was interested in purchasing a mobile,home, I told the mobile home park manager that I needed to install a porch lift or a ramp. I was told there were no homes for sale at that time. A few minutes later, I called anonomously and asked if there were any homes for sale and was told that there were. When I was ready to start high school, I wanted to attend a private school, only to be told that the halls weren't wide enough to accomodate a wheelchairl Chio has a civil rights law which prohibits some types of discrimination, but many states do not, and discriminatory practices continue to keep people with disabilities out of the minstream of society. Passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act without compromising amendments is vitally important in order to ensure the basic civil rights of people with disabilities. FIELD HEARING ON AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON SELECT EDUCATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED FIRST CONGRESS FIRST SESSION HEARING HELD IN HOUSTON, TX, AUGUST 28, 1989 Serial No. 101-56 Printed for the use of the Committee on Education and Labor 21-839 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1989 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Sales Office |